Sailing: Charles sets course for the Olympics

Sailing

STUART ALEXANDER

Lawrie Smith, a bronze medallist in Barcelona four years ago, saw the battle to represent Britain in the two-man Star class at this year's Olympics swing decisively in favour of his rival, Glyn Charles, yesterday.

The Welshman posted a sixth and a 12th in races four and five of the Bacardi Cup in Miami while Smith could manage only a 25th and a 28th. That put Charles 36 place points clear of Smith and in sight of the opening ceremony in Atlanta with only the last race of the series to sail today.

Charles is lying seventh overall in a strong fleet led by San Diegans Vince Brun, a top crewman for Dennis Conner, and America's Cup skipper Paul Cayard.

Three firsts from three starts made Brazil's Claudio Cardoso master of the testing conditions off Dubai yesterday and set him up as favourite to take the gold medal in the Hobie Cat 16 World Championships. With the fleet cut down from 300 to a final 56, there should be just three races today to give Cardoso a prize that has always eluded him.

The 30-year old from Recife with his crew of seven years, Frederico Monterio, took the silver in '93 in Guadeloupe and again last year in Mexico, losing only on the final leg of the final race to the defending champion, Aaron Worrall of Australia.

The main threats to Cardoso come from William and Lucinda Edwards of South Africa and Mark Laruffa of Papua New Guinea, crewed by Liz Wardley. The only Britons left in the competition, Matthew Eeles and Philip Hilyard, are lying 33rd.

"Maybe this is my year," Cardoso said. "If the wind stays strong I feel I have a good chance."

HOBIE CAT 16 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Dubai) Final standings after 13 races (out of 16): 1 C Cardoso and F Monterio (Bra) 36.75pts; 2 W and L Edwards (SA) 43; 3 M Laruffa, L Wardley (PNG) 48. GB: 33 M Eeles, P Hilyard 142.